2012 ‫الدورة اإلستثنائية للعام‬ ‫الشهادة الوتىسطة‬ ‫وزارة التربية والتعلين العالي‬

‫الوديرية العاهة للتربية‬

‫دائرة االهتحانات‬
‫هسابقة في هادة اللغة االنكليسية‬
:‫االسن‬
‫الودة ساعتاى‬
:‫الرقن‬

Part One: Reading Comprehension (Score: 12/20)

Read the following text, in which the writer speaks about a mysterious dog that puzzled the guards of Peel
Castle. When you are through with the reading, answer the questions that follow.

The Dark Passage

1 In the days of Charles II, the King of England, Peel Castle was always garrisoned1 by soldiers.
The guard room was just inside the main entrance of the castle. The passage between the guard
room and the captian’s room passed through one of the old halls. At the end of the day, soldiers
used to take turns to lock the castle gates and carry the keys through the dark passage to the
captain’s room.
2 About that time, a big black dog with rough, curly hair was seen, sometimes in one room, next
time in another. He did not belong to anyone there, and apparently no one knew anything about
him. However, every night, when the candles were lighted in the guard room, and the fire was
burning, he would come down the dark passage and lay himself down by the hearth. He made no
sound but lay on the floor till the break of day, and then he would get up and disappear into the
passage.
3 At first, the soldiers were scared of him. Although, they got used to seeing him nearby and
gradually lost some of their fear after some time, they still considered him somehow immortal2.
While he was in the room, the soldiers were quiet and sober. They avoided saying any evil word
that might disturb the creature. When it was time to carry the key to the captain, two of them would
always go together – no man would face the dark passage alone.
4 One night, however, one fellow had drunk more than was good for him. He began to boast
that he was not afraid of the dog. It was not his turn to take the keys to the captain, but to show
how brave he was, he insisted on taking them alone and dared the dog to follow him. “Let him
come,” he shouted ironically; “I’ll see whether he is a dog or a devil!”

5 His terrified colleagues tried to hold him back, but he snatched the keys and went out into the
passage as fast as he could. The black dog got up slowly and followed him.
6 There was deathly silence in the guard room; no sound was heard except the dashing of waves
on the steep rocks of the castle islet3. A few minutes passed when there came from the dark
passage the most unearthly screams. Not a single soldier dared move to find out what was going
on. All looked at each other in deadening horror.
7 Later on, they heard hurrying footsteps, and the terrified fellow came back into the room. His
face was ghastly pale4 and twisted with fear. He spoke not a word then or afterwards. In three days,
he was dead, and the black dog disappeared. Nobody ever knew what exactly had happened in the
dark passage that night.
________
1 garrisoned: guarded by troops of soldiers
2 immortal: living forever
3 islet: a small island
4 ghastly pale: yellowish like a dead person

1
 Questions
A. In your own words, answer the following questions, each in a complete sentence.
1. When did the dog use to come to the guard room, and when did he use to leave it? (Score: 01)
2. How did the soldiers behave in front of the dog? (Score: 0.5)
3. Why didn’t the other soldiers try to find out what was going on? (Score: 0.5)
4. What two events make the story mysterious? (Score: 01)
5. How would you describe the character of the drunk soldier? Give evidence from the text.
(Score: 01)
B. Write numbers to rearrange the following events in chronological (time) order. The first answer
is given to you as an example. (Score: 01.5)
Events Numbers
a The soldiers stood still in horror.
b The black dog was never seen again.
c The dog laid himself down near the fireplace. 1
d Weird screams were heard in the dark passage.
e One careless soldier decided to take the keys alone.
f The soldiers avoided to speak ill when the dog was present.
C. Refer to the text, and then fill the chart with the time, place, and atmosphere of the story.
(Score: 01.5)
Time
Place
Atmosphere
D. Refer to the text to complete these sentences. (Score: 01.5)
1. The soldiers took turns to … .
2. Because no soldier was allowed to go into the passage alone, ... .
3. He decided to take the keys alone and dared the dog to follow him to … .
E. Find words in Paragraphs 4, 5, 6, and 7 that most nearly have the following meanings.(Score:
02)
1. a loud cry or shout showing pain, anger, or fear
2. an evil spirit, a demon
3. had the courage to challenge
4. became impossible to be seen any longer
F. Correct the one grammatical error in each sentence. (Score: 01.5)
1. The soldier was dead in three days, didn’t he?
2. Nobody saw the dog ever since the soldier’s death.
3. While his colleagues were trying to hold the soldier back, he was deciding to snatch the keys.

Part Two : Writing (Score: 08/20)

Think of a mystery film you have seen or a mystery story you have read. Fill the chart bellow, and
then develop the ideas in a well-organized composition of about 150–200 words.
Title
Setting (time & place)
Character(s)
Events
Personal feelings
[Score: 02 for graphic organizer and title, 03 for ideas, and 03 for language]

2
‫الدورة اإلستثنائية للعام‬ ‫الشهادة الوتىسطة‬ ‫وزارة التربية والتعلين العالي‬
2012 ‫الوديرية العاهة للتربية‬
‫دائرة االهتحانات‬
‫مسابقة في مادة اللغة االنكليزية‬ ‫هشروع هعيار التصحيح‬
:‫االسن‬
‫المدة ساعتان‬
:‫الرقن‬

Answer Mark
Competencies: Utilize text-related clues to comprehend discourse
Develop interpretive understanding of printed discourse
Expand writing skills through guided and semi-guided activities
I.A.1 The dog used to come when the candles were lighted and the fire was burning, and 1
he would leave at day break.
I.A.2 The soldiers were quiet, sober, and aware not to say any evil word. 0.5
I.A.3 The soldiers didn’t run to the passage because they were terribly afraid. 0.5
I.A.4 The two events that make the story mysterious are: the death of the soldier and the 1
disappearance of the dog.
I.A.5 The drunk soldier was careless and boastful. He drank more than good for him, 1
snatched the keys while it was not his turn to take them back, and challenged the
dog to follow him.

I.B - a 5 01.5
- b 6
- c 1
- d 4
- e 3
- f 2.

I.C Time During the reign of Charles the Second

1.5
Place Peel Castle on an islet in England
Atmosphere Darkness, unearthly screams, mystery, and total terror

I.D.1 The soldiers took turns to give the keys to the captain. 0.5
I.D.2 Because no soldier was allowed to go into the passage alone, two soldiers would 0.5
always go together.
I.D.3 He decided to take the keys alone and dared the dog to follow him to show how 0.5
brave he was.

I.E.1 scream: a loud cry or shout showing pain, anger, or anger 0.5
I.E.2 devil: an evil spirit, a demon 0.5
I.E.3 dared: had the courage to challenge 0.5
I.E.4 disappeared: became impossible to be seen any longer 0.5

I.F.1 didn’t he? > wasn’t he 0.5

I.F.2 Nobody saw the dog > Nobody has seen 0.5
I.F.3 he was deciding to snatch the keys > he decided to snatch the keys 0.5

II.A Graphic organizer and Title 2

II.B Ideas 3
II.C Language 3